Special Issue: Worker Vulnerability and Strategies for Inclusion
Co-editors: John Burgess, Julia Connell, Françoise Le Deist and Jonathan Winterton
The scale of restructuring provoked by the combined effects of global economic transformation, the global
financial crisis and the 2010 sovereign debt crisis has increased the proportion of precarious jobs and
vulnerable workers at risk of social exclusion (Burgess and Connell, 2006; Pollert and Charlewood, 2009).
Workers are becoming more vulnerable in terms of non-standard work contracts, exposure to occupational
hazards (Sargeant and Giovannone, 2011) and the intensification of work and job strain, all of which has
negative implications for workers’ health and well-being (Le Deist, 2013). Those who are already most
disadvantaged in the labour market, such as members of ethnic minorities, migrant workers, older workers
and those with limited qualifications and low skills (such as youth) tend to be disproportionately affected by
these changes, making initiatives to promote equality, diversity and inclusion even more difficult. Moreover,
those groups most in need of collective representation are frequently poorly organized, reducing the capacity
of trade unions to offer social protection.
Consequently, we invite authors to submit papers that explore the notion of vulnerability in a context where
precarious work is becoming prevalent. We are interested in how vulnerability is perceived from the relative
perspectives of employers, trade unions and the workers themselves. In addition, examples of initiatives
introduced by the social partners or intermediary organisations that support workers at risk would be
welcome. Themes may include (but are not limited to) consideration of the:
1. Dimensions and assessments of vulnerability.
2. Identification of those groups most at risk of being employed under vulnerable employment
conditions.
3. Trends in vulnerability and precarious work that can be discerned in specific countries, sectors or
occupations, and the precipitating causes of vulnerability,;
4. How change affects enterprise and trade union initiatives to promote equality, diversity and inclusion
and which specific groups are most at risk of social exclusion with regard to industry restructuring and
dealing with shocks such as the GFC and sovereign debt;
5. What is being done internationally, nationally, sectorally and at the firm level to promote inclusion?
How can organisations and individuals reduce skill mismatches, maintain competences and enhance
the employability of those workers from vulnerable groups?
The International Journal of Manpower gives priority to strong empirical/analytical research papers, although
for this special issue, qualitative research papers are also welcome. If you have any queries, please contact any
of the editors:
Professor John Burgess: john.burgess@curtin.edu.au
Professor Julia Connell: Julia.connell@curtin.edu.au
Professor Francois Le Deist: f.le-deist@esc-toulouse.fr
Professor Jonathan Winterton: j.winterton@tbs-education.fr
Journal webpage: http://www.emeraldinsight.com/products/journals/journals.htm?id=ijm
Important Dates
30 October, 2013 500 word abstracts due
30 November 2013 Authors notified of editors decisions
30 January 2014 Full papers due
28 February 2014 Reviewers comments/decisions returned
15 April 2014 Revised papers due
30 May 2014 Further revisions made where necessary
30 June 2014 Final submission of papers for publication
Early 2015 Special issue published
500 word abstracts only due by 30 October.
Queries or abstracts can be directed to any of the special issue editors.
More information
http://www.emeraldinsight.com/products/journals/journals.htm?id=ijm